Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Jan. IS. 18s

the Capital have Doth Deen busy
during the week. Society has at
tended the Presidents levee in
honor of the Diplomatic Corps, and
an other given by the Chief Justice
of the United States; has eaten
Mrs. Cleveland's elaborate luncheon;
gone to her semi-weekly MONDAY
receptions, and made and received
calls by the thousand. Congress
has talked even more than usual,
but it has voted as we'll. Some of
it's most important work was aimed
at the Mormons of Utah, and much
was done in behalf of the farmers
and shippers of the country.
l might as well say much was
done for the people of the country
generally. for the Interstate Com
MERGE bill is triumph of the
people over corporations, pool
makers, and stock gamblers. This
measure came safely through the
Senate by the decisive vote of forty
three to fifteen. The Senators sat
with it on Friday until past mid.
night, and a vote was not reached
until after nearly twelve consecu-
tive hours of debate.
1t IS not claimed that the bill is
perfect or adequate in all its details,
but it is an experimental step in
the right direction. The important
thing was to assert the power of the
people over the corporations that
they have created for their service,
but which have proved in too many
instances instruments of oppression
and extortion. The bill simply pro-
claims that the master has not yet
abdicateG to the servant.
This legislation is the result of
long years OF struggle in Congress.
The Interstate Commerce bill has
been introduced and re-introduced
in every Congress for more than a
decade. 1t has been made and
unmade, and remade, changed,
added to and taken from, nursed,
encouraged, repulsed and thwarted
in both ends of the Capitol until
sometimes it seemed almost hope
less effort.
In the discussion which preceded
the Senate's final Judgment upon
this matter, several prominent Sen
ators took part, and among them
were Messrs. Edmunds and Ingalls,.
The former mentioned that when the
Legislature of Iowa passed the first
granger act some years ago, the
direst calamities were predicted OF
it, but none of them had come to
pass. On the contrary the railroads
of that State had prospered more
than ever before; and he believed
that when the great railroad system
of the United States found itself
compelled to submit to this legisla-
ton, it would turn out to be for its
benefit as well as for the benefit OF
the whole people.
The Senator from Kansas, who
rarely speaks without giving his re-
marks sarcastic, ironical, or witty
turn, said, among other things, that
he was sorry he had to vote fer this
bill, and he thought a good many
other Senators were in the same
condition. 1t was bill which
practically nobody wanted, but
which everybody intended to vote
for. 1t was bill as to the meaning
of which nobody agreed, but which
everybody said ought to pass.
Mr.. Matthews, the colored Re-
corder of Deeds from Albany, is not
the only nominee of President
Cleveland who is having trouble
about his confirmation, now. Public
Printer Benedict is having opposi.
ton from different sources. Beside
the 10000 members of the typo
graphical unions who are opposed
to him ON the ground that he is not
a practical printer, there is no end
to the criticism that comes from
Congressman Of work being done
daily at the Government Printing
Office. The Congressional Record
is full of mistakes, and sometimes
the speeches and language of Mem
bers are made to appear ridiculous
and senseless. This sort of thing
makes the Congressman indignant,
for no matter what their errors may
be, they have been accustomed to
be put in good shape, and come out
all right to the Record. 1t is quite
probable the House will take some
action condemning the work now
turned out of the Government
Printing Office.
1t is inopportune for Mr.. Coleman
to be assailed just now by the Live
Stock Commissioners of Illinois.
He is the head of the Agricultural
Department in Washington, and
Congress has just voted to elevate
his Department to Executive i'm.
portance, and give it's chief seat
in the Cabinet with the impressive
little Of Secretary of Agriculture.
This Western Commission says the
discovery of Pleuro-P Pneumonia in
Illinois was due to them, and not
one case was ever discovered by the
Govt Bureau of Agriculture, as is
pretended by Mr.. Coleman. They
charge him with ignorance of the
laws OF Illinois on this subject, and
the Department of Agriculture with
incapacity to handle such questions.
Whatever most farmers may say
about the proposed Secretary of
Agriculture, it is quite certain that
the above mentioned farmers think,
inasmuch as they have gotten along
so far without any help from a Gov
erment Bureau, they can continue
to get along without a figure head
to supervise their interests.
Saved His Life.
Mr.. D. l. Wilcoxson, of Horse Cave,
KY, says he was, for many years, badly
af11icfad with phfh suic oil